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Article Source: BBC NewsHaving depression may nearly double the risk of developing dementia later in life, new research suggests.
Experts know that the two conditions often co-exist, but it is not clear if one actually leads to the other.
Now two studies published in Neurology journal suggest depression does mean dementia is more likely, although they do not show why.
"It is well known depression is common in early stages of dementia. What this study demonstrates is that depression at a younger age is probably a significant risk factor for dementia," he said.
#1 - Mon Jul 5, 2010 8:23 PM EDTI had an elderly friend who started having some "senior moments," lapses in memory and such, and went to the doctor to see what was going on. He was told it was typical at his age, and that it was probably depression, and prescribed him some Prozac. In short, due to his age, the doctor didn't bother to look very hard.
By the time they finally took a good look at him, the brain tumor had grown too large to be treatable.
#2 - Mon Jul 5, 2010 9:36 PM EDTDoesn't it seem to you that Doctors often time don't check out seniors as well as they should? That reminded me of a guy I knew, a senior, that was having kidney pain. They kept treating him for kidney stones. It turned out to be cancer, but by the time they figured it out, the cancer was terminal. If they had checked like they were supposed to when it all started, they would have been able to treat him and he would have lived.
Geriatrics is one of the least popular medical specialities around. No money in it, hours suck and the patients ALL die on you eventually. That makes it very hard for seniors to find a doctor properly trained and informed on specific issues of senior health. About the only hospitals that reliably have geriatric specialists on staff are VA hospitals.
#3 - Mon Jul 5, 2010 10:50 PM EDTHe was going to a VA hospital. This was in 1998 or 1999. After he was diagnosed with the cancer, cancer treatment in the near area was too expensive (according to the VA), so his wife had to drive him 400 miles to another cancer treatment place that was VA approved. It didn't help though, because by the time they started treating him for cancer, instead of kidney stones, the cancer had spread too far. This was about 6 months from the time that he had the pain, and they started treating him for kidney stones, until the time they tested and found out it was cancer. Maybe the problem was just the VA hospital in our area, I don't know.
Maybe... I worked in geriatrics research at our VA here in Portland for awhile - on several cancer related projects even. I can hope it was just your VA, a burned out doc or some other isolated screw-up. I'm afraid that isn't likely.
My utmost sympathies for your loss, McS!
McSpocky What's up dog? Is it just me or is your avatar getting a little bit more unfriendly looking? Anyaways I've been kind of bummed out lately and I can't remember what I was gonna say....... allright then ??
#5 - Tue Jul 6, 2010 6:55 PM EDTYou're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
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